U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar continued to fight to ensure quality phone and internet service for rural Minnesotans. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Thursday, Klobuchar discussed call completion problems and the expansion of rural broadband with industry experts. Klobuchar has previously worked to ensure the Federal Communication Commission to monitor and take action against phone service providers that discriminate against rural customers, as well as improve efficiency in expanding rural broadband.

“Call completion problems and a lack of broadband access aren’t just a nuisance for families and students in rural communities; they hurt small businesses that need reliable communications to stay in business,” Klobuchar said. “I will continue to fight to ensure all Minnesotans have access to broadband and reliable phone service, regardless of where they live, so families can stay connected and businesses can remain competitive in a global marketplace.”

Klobuchar is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and has been a leader in pushing to expand and improve communications infrastructure in rural areas. Earlier this year, Klobuchar, along with Senator Deb Fischer, R-NE and Senator Tim Johnson, D-S.D., introduced a resolution calling for action to crack down on carriers that discriminate against rural customers. After Klobuchar and a bipartisan group of 35 senators urged FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to take swift action to restore quality service in rural areas suffering from call completion problems, last year the FCC issued notice of new proposed rules to require carriers to collect and retain data allowing the FCC to determine if providers discriminate against rural customers.

Klobuchar has also worked to improve access to high-speed Internet in rural areas, helping secure grants from the U.S. Agriculture and Commerce departments to expand broadband access in rural Minnesota. In addition, she has introduced the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act which would require states to simultaneously install broadband conduits as part of certain federal transportation projects, including projects such as building a new highway or adding a new lane or shoulder to an existing highway.